Automatic safety-valve



A.E.RucHTY.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1918.

1,308,684. Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- W 2 WW A. E. RUCHTY.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY VALVE.

APPLICATION-FILED DEC. 1, 1918.

1,308,684, Patented July 1, 1919. I

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c jvwewtoz UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

ALEXANDER nnuonrv, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY-VALVE.

' To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER E. RUoH'rY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cincinnati, in thecounty of Hamiltonand- State ofOhio, have invented new and useful Improvements in AutomaticSafety-Valves, of which the following is a specification. a s

This invention. comprehends generally im-. provements in gas stoves andburners and more particularly relates to an automatic safety valve.

. The invention has for its primary object to provide a device-of theabove mentioned character designed to automatically shut off the flow ofgasto'the gas stove should the flow of gasthroughthe pipes accidentallystop or shouldthe gas be accidentally extinguished' by astrong draft,thus prevent ing the escapeof gas and the possible as H phyxiation V of.persons.

As an equally-:important object this invention contemplates theprovision of .a valve of the above. mentioned character constructed,to;automaticallyshut oif the flow of gas into'a gas stove shouldthe stovebecome overheated to a danger point, thus preventingaccident al fires inthe house, etc.

I .The nvention as a further improvement embraces the provision of avalve of the above mentioned character wherein the I parts are of such aconstruction that the dev ce may be readily set in an operative position.and retained inlsucha positionuntil the gas pressurebecomes very lowcausing the l1ght to be extinguishedor until the light is extinguishedby a. strong draft or until the stove becomes overheated, at whichtimes. the parts automatically adjust themselves soasi to release the,valve proper, which is [desirably of a spring actuated type, therebyassuring of the shuttin g off of gas through t s p l P p ,Moreparticularly the present invention "embraces the PJQOVlSlOIl of a deviceof the above mentioned character wherein im- 1 proved cooperat ve catch,retainlng and guide means are provided for cooperating thewalve arm forreleasably holding the valve in an open position, resilient means U Ibeing incidentally employed in connection I withthe valveproper forinsuring of the automatic closing thereof subsequent-to its release.

More specific objects ,of .this invention consist in the provision of aprimemover Specification of Letters Patent.

manner relative to the stove.

Patented July 1, 1919.

Q Application filed December 7, 1918.. Serial No. 265,713.

or expander of improved construction for controlling the movement of thecombined catch and retainer carrying member; to also improve theconstruction of the combined catch, retainer and guide; and to provideimproved means for adjustably connecting the guide with respect to thecatch and retainer.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a device of theabove mentioned character which is simple in construction, thoroughlyreliable and eflicie'nt in its purpose and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter set forth.

- The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,the combination of elements and the arrangement of parts which willbeexemplified in the construction hereinafter described and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing the device applied.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail view ofthe operatlng member,

Fig. 3 is. anenlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the parts in aset position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts whenreleased.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail showing the relative position of theretainer, guide and hook on the valve arm at the time the stove isbecoming overheated, and

a Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the catch, retainer and guide.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig. 3.

' Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings there isprovided asupporting bar 1 to one end of which is connected a clampgenerally indicated by the numeral 2 for engagement with a section 3 ofthe inlet gas supply pipe 4:, the bar 1, of course, being supported inany convenient A valve generally indicated by the numeral 5 is interposed between the section 3 and the adjacent section of the inlet pipe 4and consists o-f a the outer portion of the lever.

casing 6 in which is turnably mounted a two-way valve body 7. A fingerpiece projects from the valve body and facilitates turning thereof. Anarm 9 extends from the valve body 7 and has a portion 10 pro j ectingupwardly While the outer portion 11 extends horizontally from thevertical por tion and terminates in a depending hook 12, for a purposethat will presently appear. collar 13 is'adjustably mounted on the outersection of the inletpipe 1 by means of a set screw 14 while connected tothe set screw 1 1 is one end of a coil contractile spring 15 theopposite end of which is connected to a supplemental arm which projectslaterally from the portion 10 of the arm 9 and lies in a plane at'rightangles to the vertical plane of the horizontal portion 11 and serves asa means for normally holding the valve body closed and for automaticallyreturning the valve. body to a closed position subsequent to its releasein a manner that will hereinafter become apparent.

The opposite end of the support 1 is curved and projects atright anglesas indicated by the numeral 17 to the main portion the free terminalthereof being reduced as at 18 while pivotally connected thereto bymeans of a fastener 19 is a reduced end 20 of a lever 21. The'combinedcatch, retainer and guide element generally indicated by the numeral 22is now employed and consists of a plate-like body 23 which is formedwith a transverse slot 21 while engaged through the slot and anchored inthe outer portionof the lever 21 is the shank 25 of a screw 26 the head27 of which serves as-a means for clamping the platelikebody in various,positions of lateral adjustment on The plate like body is formed on itsupper surface and near one side edge with a catch 28 behind which isadapted to be arranged the hooked end 12 of the arm 9 while alsoformeddirectly opposite the catch on the upper surface of the plate-like bodyis a retainer 29 the engaging face of which is positioned slightlyforwardly of the catch while the catch on its outer face is cut away toprovide a groove 30 between the catch and the retainer which allows forthe passageof the hook 1 2 therethrough in a manner that willhereinafter become apparent, a bifurcated guide 31 is adjustablyconnected to the upper surface of the plate-like body 23 by means of asuitable fastener such asa screw 32 the shank of which is anchored inthe body 23 subsequent to being passed through the bifurcation and thisguide is formed with an inclined edge 33 which is disposed in a plane atright angles to the plane of the engaging face of the catch and alsoimmediately adjacent and at right angles to the engaging face of theretainer for a purpose that will hereinafterbecome apparent.

In order to assure of the proper movement of the lever and the releaseof the valve arm to permit the spring to automatically close the valveand shut off the flow of gas through the pipe 4, improved expansion andcontraction means is employed.

In the present instance this expander and contracter, indicated in itsentirety by the numeral 34:, consists of a tube 35 preferably of anymetal that expands more than iron when heated, theinner end of which isbifurcated to form arms 36 which is straddled about the lever and thebar and secured to the bar by suitable fasteners 37 in such a manner asto also serve as a guide for the lever 21. Arranged within the tube is arod 38 formed desirably of iron being secured at its outer end near theouterend of the V sleev'e by means of screws 39 and having its oppositeend secured by a suitable fastener 10 to the lever. In this connectionit is to be observed that the expander and contracter is desirablypositioned in the body of the stove while the brass tube 35 byexpandingrmore than the iron rod 38 draws the iron rod-near its outerend. Inasmuch as the iron rod is connected to the tube near its outerend and by means of the rigid con, nection between the inner end of therod and the lever 21 the latter is also drawn toward the rod or inwardlywhen the expander, and contracter is subjected to'heat'; incidentallythe leverwill move in an opposite direction. 1 when the heat action'onthe expander and contracter decreases.

The mode of the operation of the present invention may be reviewed as,follows:..

Assuming that the parts have been assembled in the manner described anda s illustrated in the drawings, especially in Fig. 1, the hook 12of'the valve arm is positioned behind the catch 28 while the expanderand 'contracter is arranged within the stove near the burners. Thepartsremain in this set position until I the heat causes the brass tube 35 toexpand and as it expands more than the iron rod 38 the latter will bemoved toward the outer, endof the tube since it is connected to the tubey. the fastener 39. This action draws the 1e ver 21 and consequently theelement" 22 to.- ward thevalve and, therefore, as the catch movesthehook 12 will be released and the valve arm will swing owing to thetension of the spring 15 until it strikes the retainer 2 29. As long asthe flame or heat acts onthe expander and contracter atthe originaltemperatur the parts will remain in this posie tion but should the flamebe accidentally blown out or should the gas pressure become dangerouslylow thejtube 35 andthe rod 38 will contract and allow the lever 21 tomove in the opposite direction and re-' lease the hook 12 of the valvearm 9 from the retainer which allows the spring 15to r act andautomatically swing the hook through the groove 30 and the valve bodyinto a closed position thus cutting off the fiow of gas and preventingthe possible asphyxiation of persons. Now in "the event that the gas isnot extinguished and the stove becomes overheated 'a continued expansionof thegtube 35 and therod 38 will,

of course, cause the lever to move closer to the valve. Now, assumingthat the hook 12 is against the retamer during this latter movement, thehook will ride up the inclined edge 33 of the guide which is permittedowing to the resiliency of the valve arm 9 until the hook lies upon theupper surface of the guide 31 and as this'guide is of the retainer theand consequently the valve into a closed position toshut off the flow ofgas.

It is believed in view of the foregoing description that a furtherdetailed description of the operation of the invention is entirelyunnecessary. Likewise it is believed that the advantages of theinvention will :be'

readily apparent. However, it is to be ap- I sure;

preciated that by the provision of a device of the above mentionedcharacter the same will automatically turn off the gas in the event ofany of the following conditions: 1) draft extinguished flame; (2) lowpres- (3) the cutting on" of the gas supply by a gas company and thesubsequent turning on of the gas; (4) accidental extinguishing of thepilot light; (5) an overheated stove. In other words the device isintended to abolish every possible danger encountered by the useof gas,including explosion, asphyxiation and fire in thehouse from anoverheated stove.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departin from the scope thereof it is intended that a l mat tercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense. It isalso to be understood that the language used in the following claims isintended to cover'all the generic invention hereguide element, anexpander and contracter connected to the support and also operablyconnected with the lever so as to control the position of the lever, andmeans for automatically returning the valve means to a closed positionsubsequent to the release of the arm from the catch, retaining and guideelement upon the contracting or excessive expanding action of theexpander and contracter.

2. In a device of the character described, a support, a gas supply pipeconnected thereto, a valve casing interposed in the supply pipe, a valvebody turnably mounted in the casin for controlling the flow of wastherethrougli, a lever pivotally connectec to the support, a combinedcatch, retaining and guide element adjustable laterally on the outer endof the lever, a hook like arm projectin from the valve body andengageable with the catch, retaining and guide element so as toassure ofthe releasable retention of the valve in an open position, an expanderand contracter connected to the support and also operably connected tothe lever, and means for automatically returning the valve means to aclosed position subsequent to the release of the valve arm upon thecontract ing or excessive expanding action of the expander andcontracter.

3. In a device of the character described, a support, a gas supply pipe,a valve casing interposed in the supply pipe, a valve body turnablymounted in the casing for controlling the flow of gas through the pipe,a lever pivotally mounted in the support, a combined element adjustablymounted on the outer end of the lever and designed to form a catch, aretainer and a guide, a hook like arm projecting from the valve body andnormally engageable with the catch so as to assure of the releasableretention of the valve in an open position, an expander and contractersubject to the action of heat and cold connected to the support andoperably connected to the lever for moving the lever upon expansion torelease the hook like arm from the catch so that it will be engaged bythe retainer, and means for automatically returning the valve means to aclosed position subsequent to the release of the arm of the retainerupon the contracting action of the expander and contracter or subsequentto the engagement of the hook like arm with the guide upon the excessiveexpanding action of the expander and contracter.

4. In a device of the character described, a support, a gas supply pipepositioned in the support, a valve casing interposed in the supply pipe,a valve body turnably mounted in the casing for controlling the flow ofgas through the pipe, a hook like valve arm projecting from the body, alever pivotally connected to the support, a combined element adjustablelaterally on the outer end of the lever and designed to form a retainerand a catch against which the hook like arm is engageable to normallyassure of the retention of the valve in an open position and anadjustable guide, cooperative means on the support and lever forfacilitating the supporting of the outer end of the lever duringmovement thereof, an expander and contracter connected tothe supportandoperably connected to the lever and expansible under the action ofthe heat to release the hook like arm from the catch so that it Will beengaged by the retainer, and resilient means connected to the valve bodyand tensioned to automatically return the valve body to a closedposition subsequent to the release of the hook like arm of theretainerupon the contracting action of the expander and the contracter orsubsequent to the engagement of the hook like arm With the gulde uponthe excessive expanding action of the expander and contracter.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for valve means in an open outerend connected to the nected to'the lever, so that upon expanding andcontracting action of the expander and contracter the lever Will beshifted, and resilient means for automatically returning the valve meansto a closed position subsequent to the release of the valve meansuponthe contracting action of the expander and con tracter. p v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEXANDER E. RUCHTY. V

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batefits, Washington,D. G.

